So, growers who've grown it, how good is this tomato?

I just received 1,000+ seeds from Vladimir (53 packs of 20 seeds each. My plan is not to split them up. I plan to send them out to 53 MMMM participants in the next swap (although some person may pilfer about three seeds from 1 pack, I'm not naming names ). And, I hope that each of you can distribute some of your 20 seeds to one or two other gardeners.

Perhaps, any fall planters, who haven't started seeds yet, can PM me with their mailing address?

The contents of the envelope are a thing of beauty. I hope that a neighbor can take a pic, so that it can be posted, here.

Excellent news. Thank you.
Vladimír

I love Start F1! I received seed from Vladimar through someone else a few years back when he was offering on another forum. I asked, and received, another pack recently. Start F1 is, for me, a saladette type of tomato being larger than a cherry and larger than a ping pong ball. This year, it was my first tomato to produce a flower and did so while under led lights! Start F1 beat my Sunsugar this year for first fruit to appear. It had fruit started before it went into the ground, didn't miss a beat when planted and am just waiting for them to start ripening. We love it; ymmv!

MrBig46 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 07, 2024 12:28 am Excellent news. Thank you.
Vladimír

And, thank you, Vladimir.

The clear wrap around the envelop meant that no one was going to open it, which almost meant me. With just my hands, and nothing to cut with, that
envelope was nearly impossible to open. I don't know if it could be mailed like that, from here in the USA. The local postal workers tell me that the stamp cannot be covered in clear material. It must remain uncovered in order to get a cancellation mark.

I'm so happy to hear that they made it through. It sure was challenging.

I finally used up my original F1 seeds from Vladimir last season, so I saved some seeds thinking to see what the F2's might be like. Unfortunately, I had too many other varieties this spring, so did not start them. Just curious if anyone else has tried to grow any F2 or later selections from Start F1?

ddsack wrote: ↑Sat Jun 08, 2024 9:17 am I finally used up my original F1 seeds from Vladimir last season, so I saved some seeds thinking to see what the F2's might be like. Unfortunately, I had too many other varieties this spring, so did not start them. Just curious if anyone else has tried to grow any F2 or later selections from Start F1?

There could be next year for me, if I had a few F2 seeds. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.

Tormato wrote: ↑Sat Jun 08, 2024 11:24 am

ddsack wrote: ↑Sat Jun 08, 2024 9:17 am I finally used up my original F1 seeds from Vladimir last season, so I saved some seeds thinking to see what the F2's might be like. Unfortunately, I had too many other varieties this spring, so did not start them. Just curious if anyone else has tried to grow any F2 or later selections from Start F1?

There could be next year for me, if I had a few F2 seeds. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.

@ddsack I saved seeds from the F1 grow out(9/15/2021) and I did grow an F2 the following year(2022). I did notice some variation, particularly with leaf type. If I recall correctly, I had 2 plants that were PL and 2 that were RL. At the time I wasn't taking any notes but it seems that the fruit were similar in size and taste(according to my wife). I didn't do an F3 as I received additional F1 seeds from @RJGlew

@Tormato and any other members, I do still have seeds from the F2. I may try germinating a few just to see if the same result occurs.

Very interested in these results - hope you post!

I really don't know what happened to that envelope after I put it in the mail. It probably went to customs and maybe they put her in that plastic. The picture shows a photo of what the envelope looked like when I put it in the mail.
Start F1 is a hybrid bred in 1981. You could say it's an heirloom if it wasn't a hybrid maintained by seed companies. The parents of Ostrava early x clone M21 are known. Ostrava early was a commonly grown OP tomato (actually a RL variant of Stupice). M21 is a clone from some Bulgarian tomato, maybe pink, with excellent taste. No more has been published about him. The breeders themselves were surprised by the quality of this variety, especially its taste. Of course, even this variety has its faults. For example, at high temperatures, the fruits form a so-called yellow collar. The plant must be protected by shading.
I have another 26 bags of ten seeds ready. I want to send them in an envelope with a total weight of less than 10 g. I want to check if it will go through customs.
The seeds of this variety are no problem. Robert (RJGlew) wrote to me that he still has a lot of seeds. If there was really a lot of interest, there would be a possibility that RJGlew would send them to the swap. I suggested he try sending seeds to the swap that is held every year in Canada.
To give you an idea of ​​the prices, Start tomato seeds for gardeners are sold for 76 CZK, which is about 4 US dollars. It is also possible to buy seeds in a package for professionals, and then approx. 800 seeds cost CZK 106 + postage. The price is not dizzying for me, the letter costs me 50 CZK by air to the USA, about 2 dollars.
Vladimír

So, apparently your postal service did the clear plastic wrap and tape job.

And, for those that want to see his handiwork, Vladimir has posted a pic of the seed "packs," in the Start S F1 thread (last page), over at Tomatoville.

My Start F1 seed arrived with no issue, no plastic wrap. I am so excited - so grateful, we love this tomato! I have not tried to save seed because not sure if it would be true and with little spare growing space... well, you know. Willing to share saved seed from this years crop if someone has the space to test it out. I would send seed from Valdimir plus seed from bagged flowers - if anyone has space and time to test it out...